Affaire A Suivre (NZ) All Heart in Australasian Oaks

A filly that cost only $75,000 at Karaka 2021 became an Australian Group One winner with a classy and courageous performance in Saturday’s A$500,000 Grand Syndicates Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville.

A graduate of Ainsley Downs Stud, Affaire A Suivre has now had six starts for three wins and a placing. She has earned A$361,600, which is more than five times her purchase price at Karaka two years ago.

Something of a late developer for top Victorian trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Affaire A Suivre was unplaced in her first two starts last spring but has returned as a very different racehorse in the autumn.

She ran third at Pakenham on March 16, then scored a maiden win at Cranbourne on March 31 before stepping into stakes class with a last-start success in the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m) two weeks before the Oaks.

Her Oaks prospects appeared to be dealt a severe blow when she drew extremely wide in gate 18, and after circling around the field to lodge her bid turning for home, she looked vulnerable as challengers lined up behind her.

But Affaire A Suivre refused to surrender her advantage, grimly clinging to the lead all the way down the Morphettville straight and scoring by a head in the hands of jockey John Allen.

“She is a big, scopey filly and needed a bit of time, and she has come in to her own during this preparation,” Ciaron Maher said.

“She put the writing on the wall last start. We had the visitor’s draw, barrier 18, and she covered a fair bit of ground.  

“First Light Racing have been long supporters of the stable, and it’s about time I got them a Group One. It’s super for them, and many of the owners are long-term supporters.

“I think she has a bright future and will go further, and she may end up in Queensland.”

Affaire A Suivre was bred by Courtney and Mandy Howells, who offered her at Karaka under their Ainsley Downs banner. They offered a half-brother by Darci Brahma (NZ) at Karaka 2022, and he was passed in.

Vendor	Ainsley Downs Stud
Purchaser	First Light Racing/Mr P Willetts/Ciaron Maher Racing/Mr D Eustace (Victoria)
Breeding	Astern – Laurelling
Sale	Lot 503, Karaka 2021 Book 1, $75,000
Bred by	C P & Mrs M J A Howells

 

Race Image: Jenny Barnes

Affaire A Suivre parades as Lot 503 during the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale at Karaka Photo: Trish Dunell